CVE-2011-1581 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
The bond_select_queue function in drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.39, when a network device with a large number of receive queues is installed but the default tx_queues setting is used, does not properly restrict queue indexes, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (BUG and system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact by sending network traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-1581 represents a critical flaw in the Linux kernel's bonding driver implementation that affects systems running kernel versions prior to 2.6.39. This issue specifically targets the bond_select_queue function within the drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c file, which is responsible for managing network traffic distribution across multiple network interfaces when bond devices are configured. The flaw arises from improper validation of queue indexes when handling network devices that have been configured with a large number of receive queues, creating a potential pathway for malicious exploitation that could result in system instability or complete system failure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a buffer overflow condition that occurs when the bond_select_queue function fails to properly validate or restrict the queue indexes used for network packet distribution. When a network device with numerous receive queues is installed but the default tx_queues setting remains unchanged, the function processes incoming network traffic without adequate bounds checking on the queue indices. This oversight allows remote attackers to craft specially formatted network packets that manipulate the queue selection mechanism, causing the kernel to attempt operations on invalid queue indexes that exceed the allocated memory boundaries. The improper queue index restriction creates a scenario where the kernel's bonding driver can be forced to access memory locations outside of its intended operational parameters, leading to kernel panic conditions and system crashes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks that could compromise system availability and stability. When exploited, the vulnerability can trigger kernel BUG messages and system crashes that require manual intervention to recover from, effectively rendering the affected system unusable until reboot. The potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that attackers might be able to leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges, although the primary documented effect remains system instability. This vulnerability particularly affects systems that utilize bond networking configurations with high-performance network adapters that support multiple receive queues, making it relevant to enterprise environments and high-traffic network infrastructures where bonding is commonly implemented for redundancy and performance optimization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate kernel version updates to 2.6.39 or later, where the bonding driver has been patched to properly validate queue indexes and prevent out-of-bounds memory access. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic sources. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input ranges, and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption through system resource exhaustion or kernel-level manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing proper network device configuration management to ensure that tx_queues settings are appropriately tuned for specific hardware configurations rather than relying on default values that may not align with the actual capabilities of installed network adapters.